5 Camps Gather to Pray for Israel

By Zvi Hershcovich, Bill 613

Almost 700 children gathered in Congregation Shomrim LaBoker in Montreal on Monday to rally for the protection of Israel’s soldiers in Gaza in event organized by the director of Camp Ohr Menachem, with the participation of four other day camps.

Children and staff from Camp Geula, CPE Yeshiva Levi Yitzchak, CPE Beth Rivkah, Camp Ohr Menachem, and Camp Gan Israel TMR and VSL all joined in reciting the 12 Torah passages that the Lubavitcher Rebbe selected to be taught as the first Torah ideas and foundational concepts to Jewish children.

They read a chapter of Tehillim, and gave charity to spiritually protect the soldiers who are fighting to protect innocent lives in Israel and Gaza.

The children also watched video of the Lubavitcher Rebbe encouraging Chassidim to increase in acts of goodness and kindness, and joined Israeli soldiers (on screen) dancing to a popular song which states that G-d will protect them from harm.

Rabbi Yosef Minkowitz of Beth Rivkah stressed how the Jewish people are a family, one unit. He told the children the story of a boy on a boat, who started drilling a hole, claiming that what he does doesn’t affect the rest of the boat.

“The hole represents a Jew doing something against what the Torah wants us to do,” said Rabbi Minkowitz. “And we must fill up the hole by doing good deeds, and increasing in our good deeds.”

The event closed with the raffling of several prizes, and the Siyum (completion) of a tractate of the Talmud read aloud by Tzemach Raskin, as per tradition during the first nine days of the Hebrew month of Av (which are a time of mourning).

“Boruch Hashem that the kids added in Torah, Tefillah, and Tzedakah,” said Rabbi Dovid Cohen, who emceed the event. “Everyone should do the same.”